Clicky

Canon A490 vs Panasonic FH7

Portability
93
Imaging
33
Features
10
Overall
23
Canon PowerShot A490 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH7 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
36
Overall
37

Canon A490 vs Panasonic FH7 Key Specs

Canon A490
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 37-122mm (F3.0-5.8) lens
  • 175g - 94 x 62 x 31mm
  • Introduced January 2010
Panasonic FH7
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 126g - 95 x 56 x 19mm
  • Launched September 2011
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-FS22
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Canon A490 vs Panasonic FH7 Overview

Here is a detailed assessment of the Canon A490 and Panasonic FH7, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by brands Canon and Panasonic. There is a huge difference between the sensor resolutions of the A490 (10MP) and FH7 (16MP) but both cameras boast the identical sensor size (1/2.3").

President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

The A490 was announced 20 months prior to the FH7 making them a generation apart from each other. Both cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before we go straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the A490 grades against the FH7 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon A490 over the Panasonic FH7

 A490 FH7 

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH7 over the Canon A490

 FH7 A490 
LaunchedSeptember 2011January 2010Fresher by 20 months
Display size3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution230k115kCrisper display (+115k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Canon A490 and Panasonic FH7

 A490 FH7 
Manually focus No manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen

Canon A490 vs Panasonic FH7 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry your camera, you should consider its weight and volume. The Canon A490 enjoys outside dimensions of 94mm x 62mm x 31mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.2") with a weight of 175 grams (0.39 lbs) whilst the Panasonic FH7 has sizing of 95mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs).

Analyze the Canon A490 and Panasonic FH7 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have attached at that moment. Here is a front view measurement comparison of the A490 against the FH7.

Canon A490 vs Panasonic FH7 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the A490 and FH7 is 93 and 96 respectively.

Canon A490 vs Panasonic FH7 top view buttons comparison

Canon A490 vs Panasonic FH7 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it's tough to imagine the difference between sensor sizing purely by reading a spec sheet. The photograph below should give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the A490 and FH7.

Clearly, the two cameras feature the identical sensor size but different resolution. You should anticipate the Panasonic FH7 to deliver greater detail with its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos way more aggressively. The older A490 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon A490 vs Panasonic FH7 sensor size comparison

Canon A490 vs Panasonic FH7 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A490 vs Panasonic FH7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A490 Portrait photography info
Panasonic FH7 Portrait photography info
19
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
can't use external flash
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
34
MP count good (16 megapixels)
has face detect focus
no manual focus
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon A490
Street photography with Panasonic FH7
46
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
67
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features focus by touch
lighter than average (126 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Sports Comparison

Canon A490 Sports photography advice
Panasonic FH7 Sports photography advice
16
max frames per second low (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
has tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Travel Comparison

Canon A490 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic FH7 as a Travel photography camera
50
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse function
sensor resolution not great (10 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
wide angle not good (37mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
71
lighter than average (126g)
features focus by touch
MP count good (16MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Landscape Comparison

Canon A490 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FH7 as a Landscape photography camera
22
focusing manually not possible
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (37mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
small screen (2.5 inches)
no manual control
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse function
43
fairly wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
no manual mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
lack of Timelapse recording
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Vlogging Comparison

Canon A490 Vlogging factors
Panasonic FH7 Vlogging factors
21
wide angle not good (37mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
video res low (640 x 480 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone support
34
fairly wide (28mm)
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focus
lighter than average (126g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of microphone socket
Photography Glossary

Canon A490 vs Panasonic FH7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A490 and Panasonic FH7
 Canon PowerShot A490Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH7
General Information
Make Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon PowerShot A490 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH7
Also called - Lumix DMC-FS22
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2010-01-05 2011-09-07
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Venus Engine IV
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 5 11
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 37-122mm (3.3x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.0-5.8 f/3.1-6.5
Macro focusing range 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.5 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 115k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15s 60s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per sec 4.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.00 m 3.30 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 175 grams (0.39 lbs) 126 grams (0.28 lbs)
Physical dimensions 94 x 62 x 31mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.2") 95 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 260 images
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery ID 2 x AA -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom, Face) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SC/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $99 $149